Lecture-Concert Series presents Maxine 'Precious' Ballard, Oct. 27

Oct. 8, 2009 -- Maxine “Precious” Ballard is the featured speaker in the fourth event of Arkansas State University’s Lecture-Concert Series. Ballard will present “Overcoming Adversity and Discovering Your Best True Self” Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. in ASU’s Student Union Auditorium, located at 101 N. Caraway Rd, Jonesboro. This event, like all events in the Lecture-Concert Series, is free and open to the public. The event is co-sponsored by the Office of Diversity at ASU.

Maxine “Precious” Ballard is the sister of Florence “Flo” Ballard, the late founding member of the Motown female R and B musical group, the Supremes, considered by many to be the greatest female singing group of all time. Ballard has authored the book “The True Story of Florence Ballard” to address her sister’s life and her legacy and to dispel many of the rumors surrounding her untimely death at the age of thirty-two. Ballard’s presentation will address overcoming a family legacy of alcoholism, resilience in the face of poverty and domestic violence, and her sister’s fighting spirit and great generosity. Ballard will also address finding one’s purpose and passion and setting and achieving goals.

The lecture will largely consist of a personal account of Maxine Ballard’s own life, alongside a discussion of Florence Ballard’s life and untimely death, with the overarching goal of helping the audience to understand that individuals are not tied to their circumstances--that they can overcome even the most adverse conditions by taking several steps and paths to get to an established plan for their lives.

Maxine “Precious” Ballard is a retired kindergarten teacher. She lives in Detroit, Michigan. She received two degrees from the University of Detroit--both a bachelor of arts and a master of arts.  During the 1960s and 1970s, Maxine Ballard, like her sister, was an entertainer and singer. She maintained close connections with several Motown artists and executives. She and Florence Ballard were only 11 months apart in age, and she feels that by writing this story, her sister “Blondie” can be redeemed and celebrated as the artist and compassionate person that she was.

For more information on Maxine Ballard’s book, “The True Story of Florence Ballard,” visit http://www.maxineballard.com/book.html. Ballard also enjoys hearing from Florence Ballard fans, and welcomes letters sent to her at maxineballard@gmail.com, with the topic of the e-mail indicated in the subject line.

For more details, contact Dr. Gil Fowler, associate dean for the Honors College, at (870) 972-2308, or via e-mail at gfowler@astate.edu.The Lecture-Concert Series presents diverse programs to enrich the cultural life of the campus, community, and region.

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